Rayner shifts planning decisions from UK councillors

Angela Rayner's plans will remove elected councillors' authority over some planning applications, shifting decision-making to planning officers. This aims to speed up home construction and support smaller developers. The Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary intends to streamline planning for smaller developments, including those with up to nine homes, which will be decided by unelected officers. This is part of a broader effort to meet Labour's pledge to build 1.5 million homes by 2029-30. The proposals also include financial backing for small and medium-sized enterprises and eased biodiversity net gain requirements. A consultation suggests categorizing applications, with simpler cases handled by officers and complex ones by councillors.